Embrace of the Serpent

(El abrazo de la serpiente)
Ciro Guerra | Drama, Classic

2015 | 125 minutes | Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela

In the Amazon, a shaman and two scientists bond over 40 years, exploring memory, loss, and colonial scars in a search for the sacred Yakruna plant.

Synopsis

A breathtaking ethnographic odyssey through the heart of the Colombian Amazon, Embrace of the Serpent is the epic story of the first contact, approach, betrayal and, eventually, friendship, between Karamakate, an amazonian shaman, last survivor of his people, and two scientists that, over 40 years, become the first men to travel the Northwest Amazon in search of a sacred and difficult-to-find psychedelic Yakruna plant.

With nine different languages spoken during the course of the film, this hypnotic meditation on the beauty of nature and the effects of colonialism is presented with an uncommon sense of curiosity rarely seen. The crisp black and white photography captures the extraordinary landscapes with a haunting, almost mythical sense of wonder, while the balance between documentary-style realism and dreamlike mysticism makes for a truly poetic cinematic experience.

Reviews

“NYT Critic's Pick. Majestic, spellbinding film... Beautiful isn’t a strong enough word to describe it.” – Stephen Holden, The New York Times

“A fairly comprehensive critique of the destruction of indigenous cultures at the hands of white invaders. At once blistering and poetic, not just an ethnographic study but also a striking act of cinematic witness.” – Justin Chang, Variety

“A visually mesmerizing exploration of man, nature and the destructive powers of colonialism.” – Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

“An intense journey and very rewarding visual feast.” – Nathaniel Rogers, The Film Experience

“a legitimate stunner, a river-trip that will mesmerize and jack with you, leaving you not quite certain, at its end, how to go about the rest of your day. The film is beautiful and ferocious, calm and torrential.” – Alan Scherstuhl, The Village Voice

Embrace of the Serpent is simply a work of art, and one of the most singular cinematic experiences you could hope to have...It is a lament for all the lost plants and peoples of the world.” – Jessica Kiang, The Playlist

“Guerra’s stark allegory of the extinction of indigenous cultures at the hands of well-meaning but ignorant white Europeans is powerfully resonant in this gorgeously shot film, touted as the first feature to be shot in the Colombian jungle in over three decades.” – Nicholas Bell, Ioncinema

“An enlightening and thought-provoking film that is also evocative, exotic, and surreal in its primal eloquence, this is highly recommended. ” – Susan Granger, Video Librarian

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Keywords
Embrace of the Serpent,El abrazo de la serpiente,Ciro Guerra,Colombia,drama,Wanano,Vicuna,Huitoto,Cubeo,first nations,explorer,Yakruna plant,colonialism,Amazonian shaman,shaman,Amazonas,Colombian Amazon,Amazon,Theodor Koch-Grünberg,Richard Evans Schultes,Jan Bijvoet,Brionne Davis,Antonio Bolívar Salvador,Nilbio Torres,Yauenkü Miguee,indigenous peoples,indigenous people,indigenous,native,native people,native peoples,aboriginal people,aboriginal,aborigine,indigene,indigeneity,tribes,tribal,tribal people,tribal peoples,anthropologically,cultural anthropology,forensic anthropology,anthropologist,human nature,physical anthropology,ethnocentric,ethnography,functionalism,cultures,societies,human people,human society,functionalism,globalization,ideology,pragmatism,dogmatism,social change,society,racism,discrimination,prejudice,ethnicity,ethnic,race studies,ethnic studies,racist,racial sensitivity,bias,prejudice,racial prejudice,ethnic prejudice,genetics,hereditary,culture,ethnic culture,ethnology,ethnography,ethnic sensitivity,culture,identity,identity politics,culture wars,left wing,right wing,intersectionality,identity groups,civilization,literacy,humanism,cancel culture,online culture,cultural revolution,cultural diffusion,culture shock,popular culture,pop culture,material culture,cultural capital,cultural assimilation ,latin american studies,caribbean american studies,island studies,latin american culture,latin american history,latin american politics,caribbean american culture,caribbean american history,caribbean american politics,latin american languages,latin american and caribbean studies,hispanic american studies,hispanic people,hispanic culture,hispanic politics,south america,south american countries,countries in south america,argentina,bolivia,brazil,chile,colombia,ecuador,guyana,paraguay,peru,suriname,uruguay,venezuela,south american politics,south american culture,south american cuisine,south american education,south america in media,south american languages,south america history,cinema studies,film studies,cinema,film,movies,motion pictures,film history,film production,film criticism,cinema history,cinema production,cinema criticism,movie history,movie production,movie criticism,history of cinema,history of film,human rights,public rights,equal rights,freedom of expression,basic human rights,united nations,activism,human rights activism,human rights council,human rights commission,universal human rights,universal rights,environment,environmental,environmentalism,climate,climate change,global warming,habitat,ecosystem,ecology,eco,earth,planet,water,sustainable,sustainability,deforestation,agriculture,green,green economy,religion,spirituality,organized religion,soul,spiritual beliefs,religious beliefs,belief systems,branches of religion,religious sects,sects,gods and goddesses,monotheism,theism,pantheism,polytheism,spiritual awakening; "Embrace of the Serpent"; Pragda Films; "El abrazo de la serpiente";
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Festivals

Academy Awards® - Best Foreign Language Film Nominee; Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight Winner – CIACE Art Cinema Award; Sundance Film Festival; Toronto International Film Festival; Fenix Awards - Best Director, Original Score, Cinematography, Sound Design; Film Independent Spirit Awards - Best International Film Nominee; Mar Del Plata International Film Festival - Golden Astor Award for Best Film; BFI London Film Festival

DIRECTOR: Ciro Guerra

NATIONALITY: Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela

YEAR: 2015

GENRE: Drama, Classic

LANGUAGE: Spanish; Portuguese; German; Other languages; Catalan; English; Indigenous languages

COLOR / B&W: Color

GRADE LEVEL: Adult, College

SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE

AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE

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